Over 3,000 bounce through ‘Inflatable 5K’ in Lansing

LANSING – Steven Fosselman and Robyn Miller climbed, bounced, dodged, ducked and slid their way through Saturday’s Insane Inflatable 5K at the Hope Sports Complex.

At the end of the course, Fosselman got down on one knee and proposed. Miller, out of breath and all smiles, said yes.

More than 3,000 people turned out for the fun run, which featured 11 giant inflatable obstacles, some over 100 feet long and up to two stories high.

The course had a supersize ball pit, giant inflatable mattress, air-filled wrecking balls, a 3D maze, steep climbs and 60-foot slides.

“It gives people an opportunity to challenge themselves while also having a good time,” said Kane Rowell, event director for the run, which was put on by Townsquare Active based out of North Carolina. “People are all smiles when they come down that slide.”

For Jason Wilkinson, the run was an excuse to bring his extended family to Lansing and give his 7-year-old daughter, Lydia, a chance to do her first 5K.

“The inflatables are definitely an incentive for the kids to run,” said Wilkinson’s sister-in-law Lisa Apotheker, from St. Joseph, who trained for the event by racing up and down the sand dunes along Lake Michigan with her 7-year-old son, Zach.

This is the second year the Insane Inflatable 5K has come to Lansing. Last year’s event was at the former Red Cedar golf course.

“There’s not another 5K like it,” Rowell said. “I think that’s what attracts people.”

Contact Kate DuHadway at (517) 377-1065 or kduhadway@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @k8rouse or on Instagram @movelansing.